The difference for Al Thornton tonight is the breadth of his game. We've seen repeatedly how Thornton's lethal jab step and quick release allow him to create enough space for himself on the perimeter to launch a jumper [1st, 9:18; 4th, 11:00]. But that luxury has, at times, enabled a lack of discretion on Thornton's part. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. But tonight, he sizes up his matchups well and finds himself some prudent shots in the half court.

[1st, 8:47] Having just sunk a long jumper just inside the arc, Thornton fakes another before dumping the ball into Chris Kaman in the mid-post. Thornton's man, Malik Allen, hedges for a moment, but makes enough of a commitment to double low that Kaman kicks it back out to Thornton. Here, Thornton has cause to launch the 3PA. But he decides to use his quickness against a recovering Allen to dribble in another eight feet. Better shot, and less contested. He hits from 12.

[4th, 9:09] With Vince Carter on him, Thornton recognizes that there's good work to be done in the post. Knight feeds him just off the mid-post. From there, Thornton backs Carter into the restricted circle, spins baseline, takes a strong pivot, goes up with both arms, then lays it from underneath with his right.

The Clippers squander a five point lead in the final minute of the game trying to be cute -- trying to draw contact rather than get good open looks. The Nets, down three, respond by hitting a 3PFG in transition with :06 remaining. It's interesting that more teams down three with only a few ticks left, don't try to work their final 3PA in transition. Isn't it easier to get a quality 3PA on the perimeter when the defense doesn't have time to set itself along the arc?

After an initial Kaman offensive foul on the opening possession of overtime, the Clips get a flurry of quality shots. The first comes in transition, with Mobley forcing the tempo downcourt, beating Jason Kidd off the dribble to the basket. After a strong defensive stand - in the zone, no less! - the Clips come back up two.

[OT, 3:45] The Clips don't find much in the first 14 seconds or so of the possession. The Nets are using rookie center Sean Williams on Maggette, and Williams' length isn't allowing Maggette any space, not even for a simple feed. Kidd is on the ball, bothering Sam. Finally, Sam realizes his best bet might be a side screen that Kaman is offering up just in front of the Clippers' bench. He takes it and, off the screen, Josh Boone moves with Cassell toward the corner. This frees Kaman. Sam shoots him the ball, and Kaman ignites one of his best finishes of the season - driving ferociously from ten feet and not stopping until he slams the ball home. Clippers by 4.

[OT, 2:30] Thornton has a matchup with Jason Kidd off the left post. Maggette recognizes it quickly and dumps an entry pass into the rookie. This time, Thornton, back to the hoop, drives across the lane. He stops, elevates, and sinks an easy 12-footer over his much smaller defender. Thornton's release is so quick that Sean Williams - who's an absolute beast of a help defender and my favorite rookie in the league right now - can't get there on time. Clippers by 8.

The Clips hit their FTAs down the stretch, and put the game away with reasonable ease.

I'm not offering anything original when I suggest that the Clippers ought to run more early S/R with Cassell and Kaman. Kaman has cultivated the kind of patience in the halfcourt that you want in your big man. The Clippers should run more through him at about :18, which would force the double-team earlier, thereby allowing the wings more time to work reasonable shots without having to look up and see :04 on the shot clock, which is what happens now more times than not.

Posted Wednesday, October 29 at 3:20PM

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Comments

Great win for the Clips...without Al Thorton, they don't win this game (I know I'm stating the obvious here). Not to try to compare him, but Thorton's style and athelticism reminds me of Dominique Wilkins.

I gotta agree that Sam and Chris on the Screen and Roll would give opponents fits.
But I'm wondering if Sam's time as a Clipper is coming to an end. As much as I'd hate to see him leave, he's gotta be itching to go to Boston.

I also agree with the Sam/Kaman S/R, but I've never seen Kaman set a decent screen, OR roll at the righ time. He
(and the other clips) often set a screen and leave before the guards have time to use the screen. Not only that, but they often set the screen, and run through without opening up toward the guard. What the PHX bigs do really well, is hesitate just enough to allow the defense to react to the guard penetration and then roll to the basket, or an open spot on the court.

I also agree that Al was huge in the fourth, but the game was really bookended by Kaman. He had a monster block in the first few seconds, hit a basket or two, then went into a funk. He missed at 6-7 in a row in the first. BUT, he ended with some good defense, and that monster dunk in OT.

My question on QR on the earlier post seems to be picked up at NBA Sportsline

"--Tim Thomas passed out a season-high seven assists in the victory over New Jersey. However, Thomas' three-point shooting touch is off. He missed all three of his tries from beyond the arc against the Nets and now has missed 33 of his past 39 three-point shot attempts.

--Swingman Quinton Ross extended his dubious streak of not scoring, despite starting, to five consecutive games. Over the past five games, Ross is 0 of 10 from the field and has not attempted a free throw."

Dubious streak alright, surely he has to dropped from the starting rotation

Just a fun comment. I was at Jerry's Deli today in Woodland Hills sitting at a booth having a peaceful lunch with the lady and suddenly walks in an enormous dark shadow The shadow was so tall I didn't initially think it would fit through the door, as the man bent his head a bit and walked in where I can finally see his face, it was none other than Tim Thomas.

Now I've met Tim before during a Clippers game that I had family room passes for, and he happens to be a really nice guy, but as a fan of basketball, his diet truly concerned me. I passed by his table on my way out of the restaurant and his table was full of random fatty junk foods, which for a deli, is quite uncommon... why not just visit McDonald's??

Wow, the Clippers REALLY stink. Another loss to Utah, this time at home. Maggette continued his strong play and Q Ross continued his scoreless streak, extending it to what must be a record for an NBA starter. I wonder if Mike Smith and Ralph are still talking this guy up and how "he never hurts you out there!!!!" What are those two smoking? Whatever it is it is coming straight from Dunleavy. Why is this asshole coach holding back Thornton's minutes for Ross? As far as I can see this season is totally shot. WHy isn't a main purpose of the season to develop Thornton, who is one of the top rookies in the league, probably a top 3 if he ever gets the time. Livingston is not coming back this year, AND the Clippers are not going to lose enough games to be among the worst 5 or so teams. Thus, no number 1 or really top pick, not that there is anyone out there worth getting worked up about anyway.

Start Thornton at small forward and move Maggette to shooting guard. What does Dunleavy have to lose at this point.

I have to add that the Clippers should not be losing like this with the current roster's state of relative health. At this point, Dunleavy must start to lose the excuses for his team's poor play. He should be winning more with this current roster. He is simply a poor personnel manager and obsessed with matchups to the exclusion of all else.

Will Sterling Make A Change?
"I'm not happy," Donald Sterling said. "The fans aren't happy, and can't be happy when they don't see a motivated performance.
"I want to make L.A. fans proud of this team, but if [Elgin Baylor and Mike Dunleavy] can't make it happen, then I have no choice but to make changes."

After searching Dunleavy out for a heart-to-heart after the Utah loss, Sterling said he expects more from his coach.

"That's why I'm paying [Dunleavy] the money I am," he said. "I want to see him win. I don't want to tell him how to do it. I'm just interested in the conclusion. My whole philosophy is hire the best people and let them do their jobs. ... There is no alternative, you have to rely on them, and if it doesn't work out, either you're patient or make changes, right?" -- Los Angeles Times

Brand Not Opting Out?
Elton Brand | Clippers
"One, based on my conversation with Elton (Brand), he's not going to opt out," said Donald Sterling. "And two, whatever he asks for, I think he deserves. He is our franchise player, we need him. You saw a short time ago we were pretty close to being a special team, and now without him you see how difficult it is."
Brand is due to earn more than $16 million next season. -- Los Angeles Times

Will Sterling Make A Change?
"I'm not happy," Donald Sterling said. "The fans aren't happy, and can't be happy when they don't see a motivated performance.
"I want to make L.A. fans proud of this team, but if [Elgin Baylor and Mike Dunleavy] can't make it happen, then I have no choice but to make changes."

After searching Dunleavy out for a heart-to-heart after the Utah loss, Sterling said he expects more from his coach.

"That's why I'm paying [Dunleavy] the money I am," he said. "I want to see him win. I don't want to tell him how to do it. I'm just interested in the conclusion. My whole philosophy is hire the best people and let them do their jobs. ... There is no alternative, you have to rely on them, and if it doesn't work out, either you're patient or make changes, right?" -- Los Angeles Times

Brand Not Opting Out?
Elton Brand | Clippers
"One, based on my conversation with Elton (Brand), he's not going to opt out," said Donald Sterling. "And two, whatever he asks for, I think he deserves. He is our franchise player, we need him. You saw a short time ago we were pretty close to being a special team, and now without him you see how difficult it is."
Brand is due to earn more than $16 million next season. -- Los Angeles Times

**Translation: MD, you figure this out and NOW or get your overpaid and overmatched ass outta here. And no whining about injuries, it's sports, and the Clips are paying MD a ton of loot to coach the team, to be inventive and find ways to win games, not cry about Elton and Shaun being out.

Now this is what am talking about, DTS. Finally you have spoken the words warranted.

"Dunleavy, asked about the owner's frustration, said, "I'm very frustrated too. But I'm also frustrated with the organization. I saw this coming, but had two deals out there that they didn't want to do. It contributed to where we are now.""
I don't think getting Dunleavy Jr would have helped the clippers out.

The Clips could clear some cap room [though I urge them not to spend it on the Westside Rentals loon], and rid Staples of his once-endearing, but increasingly tiresome shtick. As I told Abbott this morning, I'd trade Darrell Bailey for a deli spread and three cubic liters of pre-jump-ball talc.

04/12/08 00:43:13

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